"This is about Americans aspiring to the middle class, helping them get there," Pelosi told reporters.

It unlikely a minimum wage increase will pass the GOP-controlled Congress. Republicans blocked a similar effort last year. But Democrats also see it as a potent issue ahead of the 2016 election.

ON TAP FOR FRIDAY

The Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee will hold a hearing to discuss how floor insurance rate increases and flood mapping policy changes will impact small business and economic growth. http://1.usa.gov/1JbH2eQ

The House Financial Services' Capital Markets and Government Sponsored Enterprises Subcommittee will hold a hearing on "Oversight of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority." http://1.usa.gov/1zvf3H5

The House Energy and Commerce Heath Subcommittee will hold a hearing to examine microbeads in cosmetic products. http://1.usa.gov/1EUuvP6

TOMORROW'S REGS TODAY

The Obama administration will publish 208 new regulations, proposed rules, notices and other administrative actions in Friday's edition of the Federal Register.

Here's what to watch for:

--The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will issue new rules for homeless veterans participating in the agency's healthcare program.

The VA is expanding the eligibility requirements so more homeless veterans qualify.

"The rule removes the requirement that homeless veterans be diagnosed with a serious mental illness or substance use disorder to qualify," the agency writes. "This change makes the program available to all homeless veterans who are enrolled in or eligible for VA health care."

--The Small Business Administration (SBA) will propose new eligibility requirements for women-owned small businesses and economically disadvantaged women-owned small businesses competing for government contracts.

Regulations: Manufacturers are calling on lawmakers to fix a "poorly designed" and "unnecessarily complex" regulatory system that holds them back from growing and creating jobs. http://bit.ly/1DEQXEL

Antiseptics: The Food and Drug Administration is considering a new rule that would require manufacturers of over-the-counter antiseptics used in the healthcare industry to provide additional information about the safety and effectiveness of their ingredients. http://bit.ly/1Pbczzp

Poll: A new poll shows that Republican voters who rail against big government still want to maintain many federal programs,Reuters reports. http://reut.rs/1I1w0M9

Cars: Almost half of all vehicles on the road aren't covered under existing regulation, Bloomberg reports. http://bloom.bg/1bYArdb

BY THE NUMBERS

$7.25: The current federal minimum wage.

$10.10: The level Democrats sought and failed to raise the minimum wage to last year.